1957 AC Ace Aceca Fastback Coupe / BE-603 Chassis Information

Fastback CoupeChassis #: BE-603

Sold for $192,500 at 2017 Bonhams : Quail Lodge.The Aceca is the lesser-known ancestor of the AC Ace, the car which spawned the famous Shelby Cobras. The success of Cliff Davis' Tojeiro sports-racer prompted AC Cars to put the design into production in 1954 as the Ace. It retained the bodywork of Davis's car, and the John Tojeiro twin-tube ladder frame chassis, along with the Cooper-influenced all-independent suspension system. The engine, however, was AC's 2.0-liter, long-stroke six-cylinder unit. This overhead-camshaft engine originated in 1919.

In 1954, at the Earls Court Motor Show, AC introduced a hardtop version (fastback-styled) Aceca Coupe. The hatchback body was built of hand-formed aluminum over a tubular steel framework. All major components were placed on rubber bushes to help reduce noise levels within the cabin.

In 1956, a more powerful 2.0-liter Bristol six-cylinder engine became available. Near the close of production, the 2.6-liter Ford Zephyr engine was also available.

The AC were well-engineered and lightweight cars GT cars that enjoyed numerous successes in production sports car racing, including a First in Class and 7th overall finished at Le Mans in 1959.

This particular AC Aceca-Bristol left the factory on the 19th of March 1957. Its first owner was Jack Fernandez in Venezuela. In October of 1958, it returned to the United Kingdom, where it was registered VXW 26. It would remain in the U.K. for the following 35 years. The Aceca-Bristol was owned by Adrian Hall and participated in the Carrera Panamericana in 1991, and was also raced in historic events in the United Kingdom at venues like Silverstone until 1994, when it was purchased by a American collector.

Since 2000, the car has participated in the Copperstate 1000 and the California Mille, and extensively raced in California at vintage racing events, including the Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival, Monterey, HMSA, CSRG, and LSR events.